Quote:
Originally Posted by smylie
if it works why are we all changing what we are doing every week?
if it works why do we lose weight and then put it all back on?
ani - where are you??? what did you need to learn to help you stick to the lifestyle change?
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Kel it does work. We change what we are doing, and we put weight back on because we
choose to ignore the things that work.
It would be impossible for me to summarise the things I have learned over the last three years, but let me try and highlight the things that are really important:
Know your body. Weight loss is actually very simple science - if you eat less calories than you burn, you will lose weight. You have to create a deficit of 3500 calories to lose one pound - so realistic weight loss is going to be slow.
How do you know how many calories you need? It's a matter of trial and error, but if you make it your goal to average 1700 calories/day for a couple of weeks and weigh yourself during that time, you will get an idea of whether you need to eat more or less to lose weight.
Set small, realistic goals. As you know I only ever set a goal of losing 5kg at a time. There is no use in expecting to lose 30kg - that is overwhelming. But you can lose 5kg - and you can do that as many times as you want to.
Once you have that goal in your mind, make a plan on how you are going to do it. For me I would weigh-in every Monday and record my progress all the time. I also wrote down my calories every day, and planned my meals ahead of time.
Drink plenty of water. Not only is water the best way of hydrating yourself, it takes the pressure off your liver/kidneys. Your liver can't do its fat-burning job properly when it has to concentrate on tag-teaming your kidneys. Not only that, but sometimes we interpret our thirst cravings as hunger - having enough water is all part of better blnce overall.
Don't eat diet food/low fat food. You don't need it, and it is either higher in sugar or has chemicals added - it's heathier to eat small amounts of the real thing - and it satisfies you much more too.
Don't deprive yourself! I have eaten every kind of food I want, including chocolate on a regular basis - as long as it fits within your daily calorie allowance, it's important to feel like you can eat anything you want.
Plan ahead for parties and eating out. It's the only way to avoid the temptation to 'treat yourself' or 'cheat' - have a plan and stick to it.
Read the labels in the supermarket. You will be amazed by how much crap they add to "food", and how calorie-laden some healthy foods are.
Be patient. If you really want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to slowly chip away - and learn (all over again) how to eat in a more healthy way. You have to learn to confront things emotionally, how to forgive yourself for mistakes, and to develop a brand new relationship with yourself.
It's worth it. It is so good to be able to live your life EVERY day, enjoying the benefits of a stronger, smaller, healthier body - and mind!
There are a million more things I could say, but it really is as simple as: want it, work it, nail it!
sure is dragging on.. but im glad your getting it back together. 